SAUCE:

(Should be made a day ahead and refrigerated to allow all the flavors to blend.) 1 lg. can tomato paste 1 lg. onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tbsp. basil 2 tsp. oregano 2 tbsp. parsley 1/4 c. red wine 4 oz. chicken 4 oz. veal 4 oz. pork 4 oz. lamb 1 lb. ground beef 1 egg Italian flavored bread crumbs Salt and pepper to taste Olive oil Parmesan cheese

Run tomatoes through blender or sieve and place in large Dutch oven. In a frying pan brown onion and garlic in olive oil. Add to tomatoes. Brown pieces of chicken, lamb, veal and pork (can be chops or end pieces) and add to mixture.

Put tomato paste in same frying pan and "brown" ie. until it loses its shiny color and add. Stir in spices and wine and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, adding water as necessary, stirring to keep from sticking, at least 6 hours. Remove meat after first 3 hours. Remove from bone and save.

Combine ground beef with egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and Parmesan to taste. Mix well and form into meatballs no larger than marbles. Brown in skillet and reserve for next day.

LASAGNA:

1 lb. lasagna noodles
1 lb. Ricotta cheese (not cottage cheese)
1 lb. Mozzarella cheese, sliced
1 lb. Italian sausage, browned
4 eggs
Sauce
Parmesan cheese

Cook noodles according to package directions, adding olive oil to water to prevent them from sticking. Rinse in cool water. Beat eggs with Ricotta, adding salt and pepper to taste and small amount of Parmesan cheese.

In 9x13 inch pan place a layer of sauce. Top with layer of noodles covered with alternating sections of Ricotta mixture and Mozzarella. Add layer of meatballs and part of sausage; cover with sauce and start over. Top with layer of noodles, cover with sauce and sprinkle on some Parmesan. (You will have enough for more than 1 pan.)

Bake in a 350 degree oven 20-30 minutes or until it bubbles around the edges. Serve with a tossed salad, garlic bread, extra sauce, meat cooked in sauce, and your favorite Italian wine.

Mamma Mia that's Italian! This is how my grandmother always made it. She was born in Sicily.